REAL WEDDING:: Courtney Stephens + Brian Delhom {A Perfect Match}

::AS SEEN IN THE FALL 2025 DIGITAL ISSUE OF NOW WEDDINGS MAGAZINE::

Photography by: Cheryl Cole Photography

 

courtney + brian’s story

Sometimes the best love stories begin with a little persistence…and a perfectly timed introduction.

For Courtney Stephens, it all started with a coworker’s teasing suggestion. She had worked alongside Brian Delhom’s brother for three years, and during that time, he never stopped trying to play matchmaker. “He always joked with me, telling me that he had a brother and how he wanted to set us up on a date,” Courtney shares. “It wasn’t until after I left the company that I finally agreed to go on a blind date with Brian.”

That long-anticipated date turned out to be worth the wait. “We always say that the timing was right because Brian agreed to go on a date with me as well,” she says. From that first meeting, everything just clicked. What began as a brother’s hunch quickly grew into something real.

After two and a half years of long-distance dating, Courtney and Brian built a home together in Baton Rouge, and nine months later, he planned the perfect proposal. “Every year we have a special Christmas dinner and choose a new nice restaurant to go to,” Courtney recalls. “After going to the restaurant, we came home and that’s where he asked me to marry him.”

Their wedding reflected the same sense of intimacy and thoughtfulness that defines their relationship. With about 110 guests, the celebration felt close-knit and personal, filled with family, laughter, and meaningful details. “We wanted to keep our wedding small and intimate, and we feel like it was the perfect size because we got to speak to everybody and see all of our closest friends and family,” Courtney says.

The couple surrounded themselves with the people they love most. Brian’s six groomsmen included his three brothers, one of Courtney’s brothers, and two of his high-school friends. Courtney’s bridal party featured two cousins, two sisters-in-law, and two lifelong friends, one from fifth grade and one from college. Her oldest brother officiated the ceremony. “It was very important to both of us that we had somebody close to us officiate our wedding,” Courtney explains. “My oldest brother happens to be ordained, so we thought, who better to honor us in matrimony than my brother, who I look up to as a role model?”

Family filled every role of the day, from junior bridesmaids and flower girls to four lively ring bearers. “We each have two nephews on each side, so in total we had four ring bearers!” Courtney says. Even the youngest family member, a four-month-old niece, had a special title as honorary flower girl.

One of Courtney’s most cherished moments came before the ceremony, during their first look. “We got to see each other and have an intimate moment of it just being us two before walking out in front of a lot of people,” she says. “We got to take pictures and talk and laugh and just be us. I’m so glad we did that because we got to spend more time together on our wedding day.”

Every element of the day reflected their personalities: sentimental, creative, and full of heart. As a lifelong pottery artist, Courtney handcrafted small bud vases for guests as a keepsake. “I thought this was the perfect way to gift everyone a little thank-you of my pottery collections,” she said. “Since I’ve been doing pottery for so long, everyone that knows me always asks what I’m working on or asks me to make them something.”

Her father’s restored 1967 Pontiac GTO added another deeply personal touch. Once destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, he spent years rebuilding the car to its original glory. “I’ve had many memories with my family and dad in that car,” Courtney shares. “To have it as part of my wedding day, as my ‘something blue,’  was really special to me.”

Looking back, the couple describes their wedding as joyful and full of love. “Every time I look back and think about our wedding, my heart just fills with joy and that same feeling we had on our wedding day,” Courtney says.

A love sparked by fate, strengthened by time, and surrounded by family, for Courtney and Brian, it truly was a day to remember.

 

 

::CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FALL 2025 DIGITAL ISSUE

FEATURING COURTNEY + BRIAN’S WEDDING::

 

VENDORS:

VENUE + CATERER + DECOR/LIGHTING + REHERSAL DINNER: The Henry Smith House | OFFICIANT: Ernie Stephens IV | BRIDAL GOWN: Essence of Australia, Town & Country New Orleans | BRIDESMAIDS’ GOWNS: Dresses from Various Designers | GROOM/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Squires Formalwear | PHOTOGRAPHER: Cheryl Cole Photography | VIDEOGRAPHER: Elevated Memories | FLORIST: Pick-a-Petal Floral Design | BAKERY: Cakes by ToMo | CEREMONY MUSIC + RECEPTION ENTERTAINMENT: DJ Karem | HAIR: Rachel Barbin | MAKEUP: CSD Makeup Artistry + Makeup by Lauren M + Makeup by Melanie | HONEYMOON: Italy (Venice, Florence, Positano) | TRAVEL AGENT: Kaela Trussell | WEDDING PLANNER/DESIGNER: Love in Bloom Floral + Events | JEWELER: Sarah O Jewelry | FAVORS: Pottery, handmade by the Bride | INVITATIONS: Minted | GETAWAY CAR: Classic 67’ Pontiac GTO, courtesy of the Bride’s father

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